OEM or Retail

[Hotnuggets]

What is the difference between the two? I'm looking at windows 7 ultimate edition and I'm just wondering why one is around 100 dollars more than the other when they seem to be the same.

[helping]

OEM comes with no support, only up to 1 license, and has to be manually transferred by calling Microsoft (or unregistering before reinstalling) when moving to a different system. 

[Hotnuggets]

OEM comes with no support, only up to 1 license, and has to be manually transferred by calling Microsoft (or unregistering before reinstalling) when moving to a different system. 

so if i purchase an os i should get the retail?

[Ryan Leech]

so if i purchase an os i should get the retail?

yes, unless you have $$$ to burn

[helping]

so if i purchase an os i should get the retail?

nope. 

[LonliestofAll]

so if i purchase an os i should get the retail?

If you really want support from Microsoft or need 3 or more licenses

[Hotnuggets]

is there anything different when installing the OEM from Retail or no

[TopplesS]

is there anything different when installing the OEM from Retail or no

No difference, they're the exact same OS just with different licensing/pricing schemes.

The real question is why you need Ultimate?

[Hotnuggets]

No difference, they're the exact same OS just with different licensing/pricing schemes.

The real question is why you need Ultimate?

im doing high end gaming, renders, coding, modeling.

[TopplesS]

im doing high end gaming, renders, coding, modeling.

If anything Pro would do you fine. I'd have said Home Premium but I'd say you have/will need more than 16GB RAM. Ultimate gets you all the fancy enterprise rubbish that is of complete uselessness to you - unless you want to install multiple different language packs?

 

Other than that, I'd say Pro is a far better option. Maybe look at putting the extra $$$ towards more RAM or a good cooler or something?

[Hotnuggets]

If anything Pro would do you fine. I'd have said Home Premium but I'd say you have/will need more than 16GB RAM. Ultimate gets you all the fancy enterprise rubbish that is of complete uselessness to you - unless you want to install multiple different language packs?

 

Other than that, I'd say Pro is a far better option. Maybe look at putting the extra $$$ towards more RAM or a good cooler or something?

on my current build i have 24GB of ram, i was just told that ultimate was best for programs like autocad, maya, zbrush, etc. you think pro would be fine?

[GoodBytes]

OEM license of Windows 7 is NOT transferable between computers.

ONLY Windows 8, under the System Builder - Personal Usage license agreement as you read/accept here: http://personaluselicense.windows.com/en-US/default.aspx.

All explained here: http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/personal-use-license.aspx

[TopplesS]

on my current build i have 24GB of ram, i was just told that ultimate was best for programs like autocad, maya, zbrush, etc. you think pro would be fine?

Read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

http://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_ts2team/archive/2010/02/26/windows-7-sku-lineup-understanding-your-options.aspx

[Hotnuggets]

Read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

http://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_ts2team/archive/2010/02/26/windows-7-sku-lineup-understanding-your-options.aspx

awesome! this helps so much, thank you. will be getting pro now and saving a bunch of money